From Olympian to Parolee: Oscar Pistorius Walks Free After Reeva Steenkamp Killing
South African Paralympian Oscar Pistorius, who was convicted of murdering his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in 2013, has been released on parole nearly 11 years after the tragic incident, as announced by the Department of Correctional Services.
In a statement released on Friday, the Department confirmed Pistorius’s parole, effective from January 5, 2024, placing him in the Community Corrections system and allowing him to return home.
Pistorius, sentenced to 13 years in prison in 2015, becomes eligible for parole halfway into his term under South African law. Despite his release, he will face strict conditions, including avoiding contact with the media, until his sentence concludes in 2029.
Reacting to Pistorius’s release, June Steenkamp, the mother of the late Reeva Steenkamp, expressed her perspective on justice. She emphasized the irreplaceable loss of her daughter and stated that those left behind are the ones serving a lifelong sentence.
Mrs. Steenkamp acknowledged Pistorius’s parole conditions, including mandatory anger management courses and programs on gender-based violence, as positive steps. She viewed these conditions as a clear message that South Africa takes gender-based violence seriously.
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The release on parole, subject to specific conditions, has reinforced Mrs. Steenkamp’s belief in the South African justice system, highlighting the importance of addressing gender-based violence through post-parole requirements for individuals like Pistorius.”
